Interesting and heartfelt popular-academia book on the intersections of queer identities and folklore (monsters, shapeshifting, gender-bending, storytInteresting and heartfelt popular-academia book on the intersections of queer identities and folklore (monsters, shapeshifting, gender-bending, storytelling, the sense of something not fitting in the 'normal' world). It's a well thought-through thesis with a wide range of examples that bends over backwards to be inclusive and non appropriative. The relatively informal style makes it highly readable, in fact I could have done with fewer exclmation marks, but then I always could.
Thoughtful and passionate; anyone with an interest in folklore or queer fantastical stories would get something from this. Great chapter illustrations, too. ...more
1920s New York-set queer fantasy/romance/political crime thriller set in the world of organised crime and boxing, with tattoo magic. Really it's about1920s New York-set queer fantasy/romance/political crime thriller set in the world of organised crime and boxing, with tattoo magic. Really it's about love and hope and solidarity - among Jews, queer people, women, workers, all the marginalised - and the difference it make when you stand together. Highly readable, inspiring, and vividly written....more
An entertaining if meandering tale of a Russian/Maori/Catalan family in New Zealand, mostly from the point of view of queer neurodivergent siblings GrAn entertaining if meandering tale of a Russian/Maori/Catalan family in New Zealand, mostly from the point of view of queer neurodivergent siblings Greta and Valdin. It's a very pleasant read with likeable characters flailing to find themselves and their happiness, and everyone behaving in an extremely over the top manner.
The decision to give quite so many characters either identical or extremely similar names was, let's call it whimsical.
I did find myself hoping there would be more of a point or direction to it. I didn't realise "no plot all vibes" was a thing in litfic as well as romance and fantasy, but apparently it's spreading like Japanese knotweed for genres. However, if you're satisfied with warmth and vibes and inclusiveness, you'll love this.
Epistolary novel set in a super-queer magical alt-Regency when only birth order matters, not gender, and sexuality is not an issue. I absolutely lovedEpistolary novel set in a super-queer magical alt-Regency when only birth order matters, not gender, and sexuality is not an issue. I absolutely loved there was a third title for nonbinary aristos (Dukex) and how the order of 'Lord and Lady X' was inverted if she was the more highborn: that's the kind of attention to detail that shows a really talented worldbuilder.
It's a very sweet story about a man about town courting an innocent young gentleman of low self esteen and retiring nature. It's super low stakes, very much at the cosy end, with not a lot of plot, so everything depends on enjoying the characters and the world, which I did very much. ...more
Novel set in Nigeria, about a world of abusive men and the women (children) they abuse, as wives, servants, or just available sexual outlets. It's preNovel set in Nigeria, about a world of abusive men and the women (children) they abuse, as wives, servants, or just available sexual outlets. It's pretty brutal to read, and the female and queer defiance is welcome but kind of brutal too.
It's not polished--kind of jumpy--but there's a huge amount of energy and anger and feeling, and we need to know what happens. It namechecks The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives and there is definitely a similar vibe, although this book brings in gods.
However, the Cipher Press ebook edition doesn't work *at all* on my Kobo. All the accented characters come out as weird blocks, and since that's mostly names of all the crucial characters, it made for a near-impossible reading experience. Really poor from the publisher there. ...more
A spy novel / super slow burn m/m romance / philosophical SF.
This starts absolutely spectacularly, and gave me the kind of tingles you get when you tA spy novel / super slow burn m/m romance / philosophical SF.
This starts absolutely spectacularly, and gave me the kind of tingles you get when you think you're about to read something utterly epic. It didn't quite fulfil that.
Part of the problem is, the plotting isn't up to the concept: for me, not enough happens. It's extremely static from about 40% on, in both the SF and the romance plots, and we don't ever really delve into either the relationship or the deeper meaning of Prophet. There's a lot of talking. Regrettably this exposes an authorial habit of all the characters addressing each other by name in close to 50% of the dialogue lines, which becomes incredibly obtrusive very fast. ("Is that right, Adam?" / "Yes it is, Rao" when they are the only people in the room.) Editor fail.
Eh. I loved the start so much I may have been over picky, but for me, the second half really needed a lot more development to live up to its huge potential. Clearly the authors were revelling in the super slow burn romance, but tbh I didn't find it as compelling as the Prophet storyline, and it gave me that vaguely uncomfortable feeling I was reading fanfic of something. Still definitely worth reading, with some truly lovely writing, and a line about how the world will end with people clutching toys that gave me chills. ...more
A hugely involving take on Frankenstein, in which Mary (descendant of Victor) and her husband attempt to recreate the famous experiment, only they're A hugely involving take on Frankenstein, in which Mary (descendant of Victor) and her husband attempt to recreate the famous experiment, only they're palaeontologists, so this time they're trying to make a pleiosaur. Frankenstein meets Jurassic Park. Amazing. (It's not really that, I'm just astonished the publishers didn't slap on that tagline.)
Really, it's very much about: being a woman scientist in the Victorian period, being a woman scientist at all, being a woman, with the expectations of motherhood and wifeness, being pleasant, always pleasant, smoothing over situations, self effacement, never having anger or pride. And very much about the endless capacity of men to be a massive selfish disappointment and then be completely baffled when called out for what they did. Mary is a ferociously angry, bitter woman choking on the injustice of it all, and this makes for a pretty emotional, cathartic read. With hand-stitched dinosaur. Plus the author tackles endemic racism inclusing 'scientific' racism, chronic pain, and child loss, and there's a low-key sapphic romance starting, so there is a lot going on here.
I enjoyed it very much. The writing is great and has a strong period feel, Mary is a fascinating character, making no effort to be 'likeable', and Henry depressingly plausible in that he's not even a villain, just a typical selfish man. It starts a little bit slowly, with a lot of childhood, in the way of Victorian novels, but stick with it: it's a really entertaining tale. ...more
A very interesting collection of essays around queerness in the Western occult tradition (including the parts of practice taken from other traditions A very interesting collection of essays around queerness in the Western occult tradition (including the parts of practice taken from other traditions eg Tantra). I am in no way informed on that so can't comment: I came here for Dion Fortune and Crowley era stuff, and found that really in-depth and informative. There's also a marvellous piece on gender and sexual fluidity in the Norse traditions, and a note-perfect Round the Horne parody (no, I didn't see that coming either) called Bona Shamans, which mad props if you like me are a Julian and Sandy devotee. (Bona Law: "we have a criminal practice that takes up most of our time". I will never stop laughing.)
Niche, obv, but should you be into the historical occult it is super interesting, and immensely readable. I wish everyone in this area (or any academic area) could write with this level of humour and clarity. ...more
Very enjoyable urban fantasy starring a curmudgeonly vampire taking on a zombie attack. Withrow is not a standard vampire, being 350lbs and no ChristoVery enjoyable urban fantasy starring a curmudgeonly vampire taking on a zombie attack. Withrow is not a standard vampire, being 350lbs and no Christopher Lee, still less Lestat, and very definitely no sparkles, but he does have a bit of a heart all the same. Very cutting satire of US life (as much of the horror is located there as in the zombies), entertaining writing, fun horror. I'll read more of these. ...more
A terrific short story collection full of strangeness, magic, SF, and hurt. It's immensely queer and achingly sad and angry and brave and defiant, witA terrific short story collection full of strangeness, magic, SF, and hurt. It's immensely queer and achingly sad and angry and brave and defiant, with characters who have the courage to reach for joy in a world that tells them they have no right to exist. Really excellent writing and immense imagination, but it's the purity of its anger, pain and joy that stays with you.
Currently part of the Pride Storybundle (June 2023) and worth the price of admission on its own....more
Novella set in Kenya, about a family whose 19 year old son has just killed himself, and whose sister is tantalised by the possibility of turning back Novella set in Kenya, about a family whose 19 year old son has just killed himself, and whose sister is tantalised by the possibility of turning back time to save him. The magical element is there but really it's a meditation on grief, loss, family, memory. And the importance of showing kindness now, not putting 'what people will think' or other priorities first, because there may not be more chances later. Lovely writing.
Merged review:
Novella set in Kenya, about a family whose 19 year old son has just killed himself, and whose sister is tantalised by the possibility of turning back time to save him. The magical element is there but really it's a meditation on grief, loss, family, memory. And the importance of showing kindness now, not putting 'what people will think' or other priorities first, because there may not be more chances later. Lovely writing....more
This was a sheer delight from beginning to end. I adored it.
Absolutely charming story of a job-drained intern in One Wizard, a READ IT. READ IT NOW.
This was a sheer delight from beginning to end. I adored it.
Absolutely charming story of a job-drained intern in One Wizard, a corporate magic company with strong US healthcare vibes, whose urge to help a young man with strange symbols on his wall plunges us into a story of demonic possession, found family, courage, queerness, love, and clinging to kindness in a unkind world, also the many-layered bureaucracy of Hell (which is still better than US healthcare).
It's an absolute pleasure to read, with wonderfully assured, evocative writing. In fact it was such a pleasure that it's written in second person present tense and I didn't even mind, which deserves some kind of award.
Honestly, this has Murderbot levels of 'inexplicably comforting read despite the potentially terrifying content' going on. An utter delight that has gone straight into my favourites folder. You would be a pillock to miss this. Don't be a pillock. ...more
An absolute delight of a novella. Our narrator Stacy is a necromancer working for the body that investigates airplane crashes (genius premise), haunteAn absolute delight of a novella. Our narrator Stacy is a necromancer working for the body that investigates airplane crashes (genius premise), haunted by a ghost of a captain who died in a mysterious crash, and drawn in to an escalating series of mysterious incidents. The plot is lovely and just the right level of complexity for the length with everything nicely woven in, the atmosphere is beautifully done, the writing cinematic, and the concept elegantly developed and proper scary. Terrific. If I had a quibble, I'd have liked the super-understated romance to be just a tad more stated, but that's really because I liked the characters so much, I wanted more. Very highly recommended. ...more
Historical fiction with strong romantic elements, probably, rather than a romance per se, although the story is very much about love and sex, not neceHistorical fiction with strong romantic elements, probably, rather than a romance per se, although the story is very much about love and sex, not necessarily at the same time.
It's Georgian-set, the story of Billy, thief turned prostitute turned a marquess's kept boy, now eighteen and ageing out of the work, purveyor of incredibly poor and selfish decisions, and looking for someone to take care of him because he's got no other skills and has burned every bridge he's ever crossed.
Which is all pretty bleak, but that's the Georgian period for you, and fiction of the time is just as clear on the endless rapacious exploitation and the struggle to survive. This is very much written in a Georgian novel pastiche style, and works terrifically with just a couple of false notes (which I checked anyway because it's amazing how frequently terms come up much earlier than you think, but sex worker is definitely 1980s). Overall, it's a marvellous exercise in the use of language and historical detail, terrifically grounded, very vivid and real-feeling. As noted, it's a grim reality, and Billy is a pretty unlovable person for much of the book, though given his mother sold him to a brothel at the age of 13 we can cut him some slack.
Really it's a bildungsroman: Billy discovering a conscience, and responsibility, and his capacity for love and friendship growing along with those, all of which is highly satisfying. The plot is mostly more a succession of events (again, very much in the Georgian style the author is working in) but we build to a nice dramatic peak and a satisfactory ending, or new beginning, for Billy and his love interest.
I enjoyed this a lot, and I am a really big fan of what this author is doing with queer historical writing and the very strong research and language. ...more
Oooh this was a pleasure. Well it's a Melissa Scott fantasy novel, so obviously it was.
A sort of alt-Venice city, ruled by houses that make bargains Oooh this was a pleasure. Well it's a Melissa Scott fantasy novel, so obviously it was.
A sort of alt-Venice city, ruled by houses that make bargains with demons. Irichels has unexpectedly inherited the mastership of his house due to all of his relatives dying, and finds himself in the middle of politics, intrigue, and a magical murder mystery.
The characters are lovely, especially the core relationships of Irichels, his lover, and his friend/bodyguard. Wonderfully worked out magic system, immensely evocative description of the watery city, nice twisty plot, plenty of peril, and lots of heart. It all makes for a wonderfully enjoyable, immersive read and I regretted it wasn't twice the length (not that there was anything wrong with the pacing, just literally me wanting more book). ...more
The premise is of a typeface that makes most people feel bliss when they see it and a few people have a reaction of whole-body agony and vomiting. KinThe premise is of a typeface that makes most people feel bliss when they see it and a few people have a reaction of whole-body agony and vomiting. Kind of like Comic Sans.
The actual story isn't really about typefaces, sadly. HellSans the font is very much a metaphor for how only one kind of discourse is acceptable in society and how people who don't conform to that are harmed by it, and treated as deviants by others. This is a book of ideas--about who bodies belong to, and what constitutes the self (memory, physicality, connection, status?), and also very explicitly about narrative, who's telling the story, who's the viewpoint, who's the main character.
It's also very very much about bodies in terms of how gross they are and how many expellable fluids they contain. Lots of body horror, torture etc but also, I've never seen so much vomit in a book (seriously if you have vomit issues don't come near this), and one character goes on a journey where the passage of time is basically marked by her urinating and emptying her menstrual cup. I started off thinking, "Yay a book where a menstruating person goes on a quest and periods are a goddamn pain in the neck!" because you see that so rarely, but tbh the novelty wore off. again, it's very much about bodies so there's lots of thought behind this.
Overall this feels like a book where the author had an absolute ton of ideas to express, and for me, the experience of reading it as a story suffered accordingly. Icho basically doesn't have much of a character (Jane is a terrific depiction of a truly, utterly awful human being who can only be forced into any sort of empathy for others by extreme suffering) and the plot comes in fits and starts, with the ending bewilderingly rushed. But, I'm a heavily plot- and character-driven reader. Those who like their specfic full of ideas will probably adore this. ...more
Long, engaging epic recasting The Water Margin with a mostly female queer cast. Full of fantasy and violence, with non-stop fighting and some highly qLong, engaging epic recasting The Water Margin with a mostly female queer cast. Full of fantasy and violence, with non-stop fighting and some highly questionable morals (including some serious brutality from the good guys). One of the few long books I read this holiday that actually supports its length, in large part because it's leaning into the vibes of the episodic and endless original. Enjoyable, engaging, and handles the huge cast with aplomb: I would have liked more time with more of the outlaws. ...more
An extraordinary read. The worldbuilding is absolutely magisterial and deeply involving, both in the fantastical/magical aspects and the take on colonAn extraordinary read. The worldbuilding is absolutely magisterial and deeply involving, both in the fantastical/magical aspects and the take on colonialism and its effects, on messiahs and religion-dominated societies, on people's ability to not think about what's right in front of them. It's relatively slow build but there's plenty of plot, and Fetter is a fascinating character, constantly divided in himself and torn between world, sometimes literally. Just a magisterial work of imagination that kept me completely gripped even when I wasn't sure what was going on, and the plot turn is terrific. Astonishing this is a debut. ...more
I loved this retelling/reframing of a set of Indian stories that have been retold and reframed for centuries by Indian writers, and were then retold aI loved this retelling/reframing of a set of Indian stories that have been retold and reframed for centuries by Indian writers, and were then retold and reframed by Richard Burton. I have no idea how close these are to the originals, or how much that matters given that the entire premise of the book is about how stories change in the telling while changing the teller and the listener alike.
Anyway: brilliant. The stories are excellently told, with a strong queer sensibility (including trans and queer protagonists, most of them misbehaving because most people in these stories are misbehaving, but with a couple of achingly lovely moments of hope and yearning too). There's also a powerful feminist feel and the whole thing is a reminder that there are no absolutes (in the way of virtues, or morality, or much else).
There's also the interwoven story of Isabella Burton, Richard's wife, and her own storytelling and silencing of stories, which has sent me off to buy a biography of the pair of them, and in search of an older version of the Vikram-Vetaal stories.
An absolute joy. This is at once a delightful and absurd romcom (I have said before, Alexis Hall does romcoms like Richard Curtis might if Richard CurAn absolute joy. This is at once a delightful and absurd romcom (I have said before, Alexis Hall does romcoms like Richard Curtis might if Richard Curtis was good) and a really intense, moving love story, and a deep dive into some of the thorny issues of queer identity and belonging. The fact that all three fit together seamlessly is just...gah.
Luc is as before a wonderful narrator. We see how both he and Oliver have progressed from Boyfriend Material, but where Luc is becoming more confident and more able to look at himself and get out of his own head, Oliver is going rather the other way. Not in a bad way, but because he's having to question a lot of the (restrictive, conservative) assumptions that he's internalised, and work out what's imposed discomfort and what's his own fairly reserved nature, and that's a difficult process.
Sounds heavy, is not, in part because both characters are funny and Luc's narrative voice is hilarious, in part because this is an intensely real couple who talk like people do--they're digging into problems they experience, not making speeches. Plus, the setting is pure delight. This is basically four weddings and a funeral (not a spoiler, the book flags the parallel clearly) with a joyous roll around in the absurdity of wedding culture, Britishness, offices, publishing, and the fact that we're all pretending to be competent adults.
Oliver and Luc have real problems in this book, and the fact that they're on one scale small problems (should we have a rainbow balloon arch at the wedding?) doesn't stop them being very big in the context of two people finding their way to a life together. It's a very real picture of the difficulties of a relationship, with real stakes. I've used the word 'real' about 47 times now, but it's important because it's easy for romcoms to feel trivial/low stakes, and this book is doing a lot of serious thinking underneath the gleeful fun. Do not let me underplay the gleeful fun, mind, I laughed out loud a *lot*.
Everything I hoped it would be, and a total delight.
(I had an ARC from the publishers, and share an agent with the author, but as ever, I don't say things if I don't mean them.)...more
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